In line with the goal of delivering better extension programs that are responsive and suitable to the needs of its partners, the College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT) conducted an Assessment and Strategic Planning last January 9, 2013 at the Multimedia Room of Butuan Central Elementary School (BCES). In attendance were the faculty and staff of College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT) and representatives from Barangay Dumalagan and Taguibo and BCES.

The event started with Engr. Alexander T. Demetillo, CEIT Dean, giving the rationale of the activity. He stressed that for an extension project to be successful, a careful planning that is anchored to predetermined needs of the community is the key to a successful and sustainable extension project. He went on to present the output of the extension projects of CEIT for the year 2012 and shared the best practices implemented by the CEIT.

The program carried on with Mr. Jaymer M. Jayoma, member of the College Research and Extension Committee, giving out instructions on how the teams are to go about in the planning. The participants were then divided into their respective groups for the focused group discussion. Engr. Demetillo, Mr. Jayoma and Engr. Meriam M. Santillan served as facilitators for Barangay Dumalagan, BCES, and Brgy. Taguibo respectively.

In the discussion, each group aired what seemed to be their most pressing need that they think the resources and expertise of CEIT can address. For one, Barangay Dumalagan, being the main producer of food sticks in the region, suggested that its production be mechanized to increase the production rate and consequently augment their income. Furthermore, officials from Barangay Taguibo shared their dilemma in resolving real property-related disputes in their community as well as their fear of being caught off guard when the Taguibo river overflows due to heavy downpour. Engr. Santillan was quick to offer the services of the Geodetic Engineering Division to conduct seminars of settling land disputes in keeping with the existing laws. She also mentioned that the division is capable of developing a hazard map for the barangay. A water quality assessment was also proposed by Agricultural Engineering Division as settlers near Taguibo river are concerned on the current state of the water since unpleasant practices were believed to be observed in the river. Finally, the faculty members and administrators from BCES requested that CEIT aid them in the automation of their record-keeping and grade computation to do away with manual entry and calculations which takes up so much time affecting their instruction.